Alleged spy thought she was helping with police work

A pistillate accused of spying for Russia thought she was assisting her fellow with constabulary work, she has told a court.

Appearing astatine the Old Bailey, Vanya Gaberova said she was misled by Biser Dzhambazov, who claimed they were moving connected morganatic operations linked to Interpol.

Ms Gaberova, 30, Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, each from London, contradict a complaint of conspiracy to spy.

Dzhambazov, 43, from London and Orlin Roussev, 46, from Great Yarmouth, person already pleaded blameworthy to conspiracy to spy for Russia.

The Bulgarian nationals were allegedly progressive successful aggregate espionage operations against radical and places of involvement to the Russian state.

Giving grounds successful her defence for the archetypal time, Ms Gaberova said Dzhambazov showed her fake Interpol individuality cards bearing his sanction and representation "many times".

"I retrieve 1 clip erstwhile I was with my sister connected the phone," she said.

"I was connected a video call… and helium enactment his badge connected the telephone to her."

Ms Gaberova told the tribunal it was her imagination to beryllium a constabulary officer, but that she could not spend to get indispensable qualifications successful Bulgaria erstwhile she was younger, alternatively grooming arsenic an accountant.

Dzhambazov, she said, promised to assistance her go a constabulary officer.

"He said that helium knows radical who tin assistance maine and determination is simply a schoolhouse successful Wembley," she said.

She told the tribunal Dzhambazov asked her to travel him connected a "work trip" to Vienna. There they would behaviour surveillance of the investigative writer Christo Grozev, whom Dzhambazov said was "corrupt".

"You privation to beryllium a policewoman you tin travel if you want," helium is said to person told her.

Ms Gaberova and Mr Ivanchev had been successful a relationship, but arsenic that narration broke down, she became "very close" with Dzhambazov, who was himself successful a narration with Ms Ivanova, she said.

She fell successful emotion with him portion the brace were successful Valencia, conducting further surveillance of Mr Grozev, she said.

The remainder of their clip they spent connected the beach, eating retired and different mean vacation activities, the assemblage heard.

"We ne'er followed him. We saw him lone astatine breakfast," she said.

"I ne'er followed people."

On 1 occasion, she was connected vacation with Dzhambazov erstwhile helium told her helium had an urgent occupation with Interpol and they had to spell to Montenegro, she said.

"He told maine it's a Bulgarian feline who stole a batch of wealth from our state and they are looking for him," she told the court.

The brace drove from Sofia crossed the border, with a 2nd man, who was not identified to the jury.

"I was expecting the aforesaid vacation travel similar the erstwhile two," she said.

She denied ever gathering oregon having immoderate interaction with Orlin Roussev.

The proceedings continues.